New World

"Finally, we've entered the New World… Punk Hazard is right ahead."

After days of sailing, the Warhammer and the Steel Behemoth finally crossed into the New World's seas.

"Shirley, your shield power still isn't complete. Look, explosive shield, destructive shield, chain shield, sawtooth shield, all of these are possible evolutions."

"Don't just think about defense. Think about how your shields can attack."

Hammer hadn't done any forging during this voyage. Instead, he was running a full-fledged Devil Fruit Masterclass for Hina and Shirley, teaching them from the perspective of someone whose fruit was fully awakened.

"Hina, your Cage-Cage Fruit and Shirley's Shield-Shield Fruit are both what I'd call Creation-type Paramecia. With enough creativity, the possibilities are endless."

"Take the Shield-Shield Fruit. The day you can build a shield tank for yourself, that's when you're really using it right!"

"As for the Cage-Cage Fruit, create anything you can think of. Don't box yourself into one approach, be a full-spectrum creator."

Shirley and Hina both nodded seriously and dove back into experimenting with their powers.

"Damn, brother, I gotta admit, when it comes to Devil Fruits, you're a genius."

"A shield tank? You really think of everything."

Lance, who'd been sparring with Momonga and Yamakaji, paused his strikes, genuinely surprised by Hammer's insights.

Though everyone knew Hammer was strong, seeing how deeply he could break down and expand on abilities was still shocking.

"Tch, this is child's play. If you really wanna see Fruit development done right, you should look at Borsalino."

"The Glint-Glint Fruit, originally just a light source, but he forced it to shoot laser beams. That destructive power? Tsk tsk."

"Look at the difference, same 'light', but Sengoku, the Buddha? At best, he got a shockwave. He never thought to laser-beam from his mouth. Just shows how limited his imagination was."

Everyone fell silent.

'Only you would dare say that, if anyone else did, Sengoku would've smashed their face in.'

"…Huh? Does it feel like it's getting dark to you guys?"

Shirley's sudden comment made everyone look up at the sky.

"Dark? The New World's weather is insane, totally unpredictable."

"Probably about to pour, get the men ready."

Momonga waved dismissively.

Weird weather was normal out here, sudden sunshine, sudden storms.

But Hammer stared at the pitch-black sky.

Something felt off. This level of darkness was too much…

Activating Observation Haki, he swept his senses upward, and his expression changed instantly.

"This isn't rain! Enemy attack!"

"All hands, battle stations!"

Above the black clouds… floated a shining golden pirate ship.

Standing at its bow, golden robe, golden hair, and an old ship's rudder stuck through his head,

was none other than the Flying Pirate Captain: Golden Lion Shiki.

"Shihahaha!"

"YOU DAMN MARINE BRAT! I'VE COME FOR MY REVENGE."

His maniacal laughter rolled through the clouds and slammed into every ear below.

In an instant, everyone stared skyward in disbelief.

"Damn it, Golden Lion!"

"Why'd we have to run into him here?!"

Hammer felt like crying. He'd tried so hard to lay low this voyage, even brought bodyguards. How did he still run into an Emperor-tier pirate?!

Where's the justice in this ocean?!

"Lance, send a distress signal to Punk Hazard for help! Get Borsalino here NOW!"

"Momonga, Yamakaji, battle positions!"

"Shirley, deploy every weapon we have on board. This fight's gonna be hell!"

This was Golden Lion Shiki, once a man who stood at the peak of the seas. Even half-broken with a rudder in his skull, his Float-Float Fruit made him nearly untouchable.

As the pirate ship slowly drifted downward, the black clouds parted, revealing the truth.

That wasn't just a cloud, it was a whole damn island.

"OH, COME ON! YOU'RE JUST SHOWING OFF NOW!"

Hammer stared up at the floating landmass in horror.

"You Marine runt! This rudder in my skull, that's YOUR doing!"

"I'm Golden Lion Shiki! How dare you trick me!"

"Here, let me give you a welcome gift!"

"Lion's Roar: Slash Calamity!"

Raising his right hand, countless glimmers of cold steel rose up from the floating island.

Hammer squinted, and his face darkened further.

Each glimmer was a sword or blade, part of the Golden Lion's massive weapons stockpile.

Under the Float-Float Fruit's power, the swords rained down toward the two Navy ships like a deadly meteor shower.

"Damn it! A Slashing Barrage?!"

"Momonga! Lance! Bring the ships side by side!"

"Shirley! Hina! DEFENSE FORMATION!"

"Yamakaji, watch for stray weapons!"

Hammer's orders crackled through the decks; the entire crew scrambled.

The two battleships drew tight alongside each other just before the blades fell.

Sherry and Tina locked eyes, both unleashed their full power.

"Shield-Shield! Sky Pillar Shield!"

"Cage-Cage! Fiery Iron Blossom!"

Shirley raised both hands, and an enormous shield materialized overhead. Hina slammed her palms to the deck, black iron branches spread like veins, climbing skyward to brace the shield.

In seconds, a fortress-sized barrier covered both ships, anchored by a lattice of iron roots.

"Combined Technique, Celestial Gate Shield!"

The two girls' voices rang out in unison, a new combo move, created under Hammer's guidance.

Combining the Cage-Cage and Shield-Shield Fruits, they forged a defense worthy of a fortress.

"Impressive trick! Too bad it's not enough!"

"HRAAAH!"

Golden Lion's eyes flashed with surprise, then turned feral. He swung his arms, the raining swords suddenly bent midair, curving around the giant shield to strike from the sides.

"Damn you, Golden Lion!"

"ALL HANDS, HIT THE DECK!"

"Chest-Shattering Hammer! MAX POWER!"

Seeing the defense's blind spot, Hammer cursed, then powered up his own ability.

Every Marine slammed prone.

An instant later, an invisible shockwave erupted from Hammer's chest, infused with Armament Haki; it smashed through the incoming slashes

Steel shattered in midair, and a shower of iron fragments drifted down like lethal snow.

"You want a gift? I got a gift for YOU!"

"Old beast, take my hammer!"

"Big Hammer Strike!"

"Air Hammer!"

Pushed too far, Hammer lost his patience, he wasn't about to just sit there and take it.

He leapt high, and both fists slammed into the massive shield.

The impact thundered, the iron roots buckled and splintered, catapulting the colossal shield up toward the floating island like a missile.